Thoughts and Musings

-We’re heating up draft coverage on the site with our prospect profiles, all of which can be read here. Again, make sure to suggest a player you want profiled, and we will do just that.

-We don’t, sadly, have the access to coaching tape. That is the absolute best way to evaluate a player. Read this and this to understand why. We have Youtube clips, which is something, but certainly not the best thing, and it’s flawed. You can read all the scouting reports you want, and you’ll be informed, but you’ll never truly understand a player. I base most of my opinions on others, what they see. I trust a lot of guys, and their evaluations and try to fit it in into what I like in a football player and what the Giants need or want. It’s not perfect, and I feel the need to let you know that. But, we do the best we can with what we’ve got.

-What do I like in a football player? Well, I like a guy who understands his position, the technical aspects of it. I want a guy who is a hard worker. I’m much more willing to take a risk on an unfinished product if he is a hard worker. Sadly, too many NFL players don’t have the best work ethic. I think the majority do, but there are plenty of talented to people who, with a little coaching and hard work, could be stars, but end up as busts. I like production and big game experience, but I think that only matters if his skill set lends itself to be productive in the NFL. For a QB, can he make NFL throws? There’s a reason that all the guys from Hawaii who put up those huge numbers (Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan) aren’t NFL QBs. Not because they don’t have talent and because they weren’t productive, because they were, but because their skill set was not a NFL skill set. Couldn’t make stick throws into tight windos. So you can be productive, but I want guys who are productive and have NFL talent.

-The GM of the Jaguars, Gene Smith, tends to put a huge emphasis on character. Passing on more talented guys for people who are hard working etc. And, let’s look at the Jags. Kind of a mess. You need talent, first and foremost. The Giants will take character risks. Mario Manningham fell to the third round because of that. Ahmad Bradshaw had issues. Plaxico. The list goes on. The key to taking those risks is building up a strong veteran locker room. What I would love to see the Jags do is take a character risk, a super talented guy who needs motivation or whatever the case might be, and try to see if the approach of drafting character guys is working. You need a balance. You can’t go to either extreme and expect to win.

-I think the Giants need to upgrade at guard. I think Kevin Boothe, while serviceable, can be upgraded. Chris Snee, for some reason, took a step back. Cordy Glenn, who we profiled, might not be a bad choice, although he might fly up in the first round because he’s versatile. But, you can find guards in later rounds.

-I also think right tackle needs to be addressed. I think Kareem McKenzie’s best days are behind him. You can move Diehl to right tackle and start Beatty at left, assuming he’s healthy, but Diehl, for some reason I won’t understand, is good at left tackle. His skill set should be a guard, but he struggled there. Beatty, I thought, was up and down. He’s athletic, but he’s more of a finesse player, which is fine, but against some rushers, like Jared Allen, that’s not going to fly. You don’t know what James Brewer is, so drafting another tackle might not be a bad idea.

-If Deon Grant does not return, which I don’t know if he will or not, I think another safety would be nice. Someone we will profile soon is a safety from Boise State George Illoka. Really tall, athletic can run with tight ends. Might be an option. I don’t think Tyler Sash is anything more than a good special teams player.

-That said, having a guy like Sash on your team is so valuable. Those special teams demons are indispensable.

-Music interlude: Really into this guy Brother Ali. Rapper. But good rap, none of that crap out there today. I’m a throwback rap fan, and he raps about important things, social issues, etc. That’s the rap I like, not Lil Wayne or anything.

-I think corner depth should be addressed. Not first or second round necessarily, but depth in the middle rounds. That said, if someone like Janoris Jenkins or Dre Kirpatrick falls because of their character concerns, no reason why you shouldn’t pick them. Can never have enough corners.

-And, I might say this every week, but the Giants will draft a pass rusher. Probably later. But they will.

-And if someone like, say, Quinton Coples takes a Da’Quan Bowers like drop (which I don’t think he will) then might as well check him out.

10 Responses to “Thoughts and Musings”

Seen Brother Ali free at the seaport about 3 years back, best live hip hop show I’ve ever been to, the perfect weather that day helped too, but amazing show. He really took control of the crowd, more so than most of the free seaport acts who’s audience is more passing shoppers or the post work bar crowd.
As far as the draft, I still think they’re going BPRA (best pass rusher available) unless an ELITE (on their board) O-lineman is available at that time. I’m really hoping the later picks are offensive skill position gambles, rather than OL or LB, as we have stockpiled players like that for years and still don’t know what we have there. If they do look OL or LB I’m hoping it’s early.

BROTHER ALI IS AWESOME. GREAT SMART MUSIC, LEANS LEFT WITH THE POLITICS, BUT ITS RAP..NOT THE ORIELY FACTOR. Gotta also check out Kendrick Lamar, great music.

I want the Giants to keep gaining depth with their picks. I don’t mind if they don’t trade a top flight LB, just don’t miss on one, which honestly I think they have done in the past. Not concerning with losing Manningham like everyone else is, I think his replace is a vet. 70% likely it will be a player already with the team and 30% likely it will be a free agent.

I really want to know if we can flip Osi or Jacobs into a pick already that is my question.

I am excited to see what Reese does this year and see how people complain about it. Its worked out so far. I’m from KY if you can’t tell and UK has a LB named Danny Trevathan I would love to see UK get late possibly. He’s led the SEC in tackles the last year and maybe the year before. He is a little undersize but has a great drive. UK had another undersized LB come out a few years ago named Wesley Woodyard who has done well for the Broncos.

Loved Brother Ali for years. I first heard him a Unknown Prophets album. If you heard of Brother Ali then you should know about Atmosphere, they are on the same label which atmosphere and two others own the label. The DJ looks like Steven Seagal. Brother Ali’s albums Shadows on the Sun and the Undisputed Truth are great. Love the song Us on the album with the same title.

Brother Ali is terrific. Glad other people like him and know him. Would love to see him live. Already spent big bucks on Foo Fighters and Bruce, but would be worth it. I’m so fed up with the current state of the rap genre. It doesn’t mean anything, there’s no value behind it. It’s just a thumping beat. Brother Ali needs to get out there more. Hopefully we can help.

You’re right. An NFL QB has got to throw through tight windows. So, Tim Tebows four (4) interceptions against the Bills. Hmmm. What’s Tebow doing as an NFL QB? You’ve never seen many talented QB’s because they never got the chance for on game reps.